So unfair... fury at KitKat blow to ‘needy farmers’
MORE than 250,000 people have signed a petition against Nestlé after it announced KitKats would no longer be made with Fairtrade cocoa and sugar after 10 years.
Crop farmers in Ivory Coast, Fiji and Malawi will miss out on £1.6million a year because of the decision.
Chief executive of the Fairtrade Foundation Michael Gidney said: “This is profoundly disappointing news. The farmers have been trading their way out of grinding poverty thanks to a commitment from Nestlé to buy Fairtrade over these past 10 years.
“Nestlé withdrawing their support will have a huge impact. Farmers asked for Nestlé to continue sourcing from them on Fairtrade terms.
Crisis
“Nestlé has said they’re willing to source from them but not on Fairtrade terms.”
A billion of the chocolate-covered wafer bars are made at a York factory every year using Fairtrade ingredients.
Joanna Pollard, co-ordinator of Fairtrade Yorkshire, believes the decision will cause farmers to further suffer at the time of a “huge health and economic crisis”.
She organised the petition to show Nestlé – which made a profit of £8billion last year – that the public backs the Fairtrade deal.
Joanna said: “We care about the 26,000 farmers who will be adversely affected – including 10,000 sugar farmers who will no longer supply Nestlé and 16,000 cocoa farmers who have effectively been given a pay cut at one of the most uncertain and dangerous times in global history.
“Farmers who do not sell under Fairtrade terms will lose the minimum price guarantee. I’ve read the comments on the petition and people are angry about this.
“They feel it’s unfair for a large company to take money and power away from some of the world’s poorest people.” The cocoa for KitKats made in the UK and Ireland will be sourced from the same farms under Nestlé’s own cocoa sustainability programme – Cocoa Plan, which is certified with the Rainforest Alliance.
The sugar will mainly come from the UK, with some from France. Both countries grow sugar beet.
Nestlé plans to make the switch in October.. Global Technical Manager Simon Billington said: “We are aware the move will have an impact on some farmers and we are working hard to mitigate this.” Nestle added: “We’d like to continue working with the Fairtrade farmers who supply us today.”
● PG Tips has become the first major brand to ditch all plastic from its teabags and switch to a plantbased range. It has also axed the plastic wrap on its 160-bag boxes.